Versatile sample carrier



J y 1965 M. 'r. BROWN 3,197,101

VERSATILE SAMPLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 26, 1963 INVENTOR. M/LTOA/ Z EROW/V Mu W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,197,191 VEREsATELE SAh WLE CARREER Milton T. Brown, Haves-town, Pan, assignor to Bisplay Corporation of America, Philadeiphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 26, E63, Ser. No. 261,086 8 Claims. (Cl. 224*45) .Were on the binder posts, they could not easily be removed. The binder posts normally were locked into the binder through some complicated mechanical means and it was difficult for a salesman to remove one of the samples from the batch if he so desired. Further, this type of binder was given extremely hard use and, therefore, had to be rigid in construction while maintaining that degree of flexibility necessary for its function as a binder. Still further, the binder had to be expansible so that it could be utilized with any number of samples while not losing any of its rigid structural qualities.

Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and better versatile sample carrier.

A further object is the provision of a new and better binder for a rug sample carrier which can easily be expanded or contracted to accommodate various numbers of samples to be displayed.

Another object is the provision of a new and better rug sample carrier which is rugged in construction and light in weight.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,-however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumental-ities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of the versatile sample carrier of the present invention.

IGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the carrier FIGURE 1 taken along lines 22.

FTGURE 3 is a cross sectional View of the guide for the back walls of the sample carrier of FIGURE 1 taken along lines 3-3.

FIGURE 4 isa cross sectional View of the means for attaching a hook on the cover of the sample carrier of FIGURE 1 taken along lines 44.

In FZGURE 1, there is shown the versatile sample carrier 1d of the present invention. The sample carrier 19 comprises a top binder half 14 and a bottom binder half 12. The two binder halves 12 and 14 are adapted to matingly form the sample carrier 14 The bottom half 12 of the binder carrier 11} consists of a bottom wall 16 connected to a lower back wall portion 18 through a flexible fold line 29. Construction of the bottom wall 16 and the lower back wall portion 18 will be discussed in detail below.

The top binder half 14 consists of a top wall 22 and an upper back wall portion 24 rigidly constructed and at right angles one to another along a suitable solid fold line 25. The top wall 14 is manufactured from a sheet of metal which has been provided with a suitable fabric coating. However, the metallic top wall gives solid rugged support to the binder it) and assures that the top Wall 22 will always be at right angles to the upper back wall portion 24. On the upper back wall portion 24, there is pivotally secured a suitabe handle 28 in a standard manner so that the sample carrier 15) can be easily transported.

The upper back wall portion 24 has secured thereto along opposite parallel side edges thereof a pair of U- shaped channel members 3% and 32 having one wall secured to the side edges of upper back wall portion 24 by suitable rivets 34 and 36 respectively. The channel members 3d and 32 have their open ends faced inwardly so that they form guide members for the lower back wall portion 18. The lower back wall portion 18 has a pair of metal uide rotectors 33 and 35 alon its side ed es so U D D as to protect these edges against wear when moved with respect to the channel members 39 and 32..

The bottom wall 12 has mounted thereon a pair of spaced parallel support posts 37 for receiving the ends of rug samples to be displayed in the sample carrier 10.

The support posts 37 consist of a metal tube 38 screwthreaded on its outer surface so as to engage the bottom wall 12 and internally screw-threaded along its inner surface tii so as to receive a screw-threaded bolt 42. The bolt 42 has a head portion 44 having an enlarged and 46. The head 44 and enlarged portion 46 are integral with the bolt 4-2 so that rotation of the head 44 results-in vertical movement for the bolt 42. Thus, the height of the support posts 37 can be varied. As shown in FIGURE 1, there are two support posts 37 utilized with the sample carrier of the present invention. Each of the support posts 37 has an enlarged end portion 46. The top wall 22 has a pair of holes therethrough rigidly reinforced by a suitable pair of grommets 50 and 52. The metal grommets 5t} and 52 have an internal diameter greater than the outer diameter of the enlarged head or end portion 46. Thus, the top wall 22 can 'be vertically reciprocated in a manner whereby the support posts 37 will pass through the metal grommets 5-0 and 52.

Further, a pair of hooks 54 and 56 are pivotally secured to the top wall 22 so that they engage the head 44 immediately below the enlarged portion 4-5 so as to maintain the top half 14 against upward vertical movement. The lowermost position of the top binder half 14 is determined by the number of samples supported on the posts 37.

In normal use, the top half 14 is removed by pivoting hooks 54 and 52 out of connection with the enlarged leads of the posts 37 and vertically reciprocating the upper half 14 so that the posts 37 pass through the metal grommets 5d and 52. while being guided by the channel members 39 and 32. When the upper half is removed, samples are placed on the posts 37 and the screw 42 is rotated to place in its proper position. Then, the top binder half 1 is returned to place and the hooks 54 and 56 rotated to engage the head 44 immediately below the enlarged portion 45. Thus, it is only necessary for a salesman to pivot the hooks 54 and 56 and lift the top binder half 14 out of place to replace or remove rug samples from the sample carrier. 7

The rigid securement between the top wall 22 and the upper back wall portion 24- insures proper alignment of the guides 30 and 32 at all times. As shown in FIG- URE 4, the top wall 22 is formed of sheet metal having a fabric coating thereon. The book 54 is secured thereto by means of a bolt 58 having its head separated from the hook 54 by a washer 62. The hook 54 is also associated with a washer 66 adjacent the fabric coating of the top wall 22.

The lower back wall portion 13 is formed of pressed cardboard, Micarta, or the like, provided with a suitable fabric coating similar to that utilized on the rest of the sample carrier 11d. Only the side edges of the lower e. back wall portion 18 have the metal guide protectors 33 and 35 therealong.

The bottom wall 16 is formed of a central elongated metal bar 64 running the length thereof into which is screw-threaded the tube 38 of the posts 37. On either side of the centrally located elongated metal strip 64 are two similarly shaped pressed cardboard members.

Thus, the top half 14 is formed of a top and upper back wall portion which are rigidly secured at right angles to one another by reason of their manufacture from a single sheet of metal folded along fold line 26. The bottom half 12, in contradistinction to the top half 14, is formed of a rigid bottom wall 16 and a rigid back wall 18 which are separated by a flexible fold line 25 so as to give flexibility to the sample carrier when samples are to be replaced, but which will remain rigid during engagement of the top and bottom halves.

Thus, there has been provided a rugged versatile sample carrier which is of a lightweight rugged construction. The bottom wall 16 is a good example of this rugged, lightweight construction. Pressed cardboard and Masonite are utilized in forming this wall except for those places where maximum stress is applied. Thus, in the center of the bottom wall wherein the support posts 37 are placed, a metal strip 64 is utilized to absorb the maximum stress. By limiting the amount of metal required, the double benefits of strength and lightness can be achieved in a simple construction. Further, the thick cardboard strips 66 and 68 are useful in maintaining the metal strip 64 in its proper position.

64, 66 and fisso that they may properly form the onepiece bottom wall as seen by the user.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the. appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sample carrier comprising a binder top half and a binder bottom half, said binder top half including a top wall and .an upper back wall portion, said bottom half including a bottom wall and a lower back wall portion, guide means on one back wall portion for telescopically connecting said upper and lower back wall portions to form a back wall, said guide means including a pair of open channel members extending along the side edges of one of said upper and lower back wall portions and opening towards each other, the other of said upper and lower back wall portions having awidth slightly less than the distance between said. guide chan- I nels and being adapted to telescope therein, said top and bottom walls being adapted to be placed in parallel re lation perpendicular to the same side of said back wall, support posts mounted on and perpendicular to said bottom Wall, said support posts including a screw-threaded enlarged head portion for vertically extending said support posts, said top wall having holes therein immediately above said support posts, said top wall holes being adapted to have said enlarged head portions passed therethrough, and pivotally mounted hooks pivotally secured to said top wall adjacent said holes, each of said hooks being adapted to engage a separate one of said support posts under its enlarged head portion to pre- The Mason its board 70 gives proper backing for the three strips vent upward movement of said binder top half with respect to said binder bottom half.

2. A sample carrier comprising a binder top half and a binder bottom half, said binder top half including a top wall and an upper back wall portion, said bottom half including a bottom wall and a lower back wall portion, guide means on one back wall portion for telescopically connecting said upper and lower back wall portions to form a back wall, said top and bottom walls being adapted to be placed in parallel relation perpendicular to the same side of said back wall, support posts mounted on and perpendicular to said bottom wall, said support posts including a screw-threaded head portion for vertically extending said support posts, said top wall having holes therein immediately above said support posts, said top wall holes being adapted to have said enlarged head portions passed therethrough, and pivotally mounted hooks pivotally secured to said top wall adjacent said holes, each of said hooks being adapted to engage a separate one of said support posts under its enlarged head portion to prevent upward movement of said binder top half with respect to said binder bottom half, one of said top and bottom halves being rigid, the other of said top and bottom halves being flexible along a fold line, said top wall and upper back wall portion being perpendicular one to another and joined along a fold line, said bottom wall and said lower back wall poition being perpendicularone to another and joined along a fold line.

3. The sample carrier of claim 1 wherein said guide channel means are metal U-shaped members secured to said upper back wall portion, said lower back wall portion side edges having a metal strip therealong for protecting the lower back wall portion side edges during telescopic connection with said channels.

4. The sample carrier of claim 2 wherein said top half is formed of a single fabric coated metal sheet, said metal sheet being folded to form said top wall and said upper back wall portion.

5. The sample carrier of claim 4 wherein said lower back wall portion is formed of a rigid fabric coated organic material, said bottom wall portion including a rigid fabric coated organic material, the fold line between said bottom wall and said lower back wall portion being formed of fabric whereby said back wall and said bottom wall are flexibly connected along said fabric fold line.

6. The sample carrier of claim 5 wherein said bottom Wall additionally includes a metal strip, said support posts being screw-threaded into engagement with said metal strip, cardboard strips on either side of said metal strip to locate and support said metal strip, said cardboard strips and said metal strip being fixedly secured to said rigid organic material, said bottom wall additionally including a fabric coating over said rigid organic material, said cardboard strips and said metal strip.

7. A sample carrier comprising a binder top half and a binder bottom half, said binder top half including a top wall and an upper back wall portion, said bottom half including a bottom wall and a lower back Wall portion, means on said upper back wall portion defining a pair of spaced guide channels opening towards each other for slidably receiving said lower back wall portion, said lower back Wall portion having a width slightly less than the distance between said guide channels and being adapted to telescope therein whereby said back wall portions are adapted to be placed in parallel relation and held together, a handle connected to said upper back wall portion for carrying said halves and samples adapted to be supported between said halves, means for supporting samples between said halves, said last-mentioned means including a pair of support posts mounted upon and substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, said support posts including a screw-threaded enlarged head portion, said top wall having a hole for receiving each of said head portions, and means on said top wall for 5 selectively latching said head portions to said top wall to prevent separation of said binder halves.

8. A sample carrier comprising a binder top half and a binder bottom half, said binder top half including a top wall and an upper back wall portion, said bottom half including a bottom wall and a lower back wall portion, means on said upper back wall portion defining a pair of spaced guide channels opening towards each other for slidably receiving said lower back wall portion, said lower back wall portion having a width slightly less than the distance between said guide channels and being adapted to telescope therein whereby said back wall portions are adapted to be placed in parallel relation and held together, a handle connected to said upper back Wall portion for carrying said halves and samples adapted to be supported between said halves, means for supporting samples between said halves, said last-mentioned means including a pair of support posts mounted on and substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall, said support posts including a screw-enlarged head portion, said top wall having a hole for receiving each of said head portions, and means on said top wall for selectively latchign said head portions to said top wall to prevent separation of said binder halves, one of said top and bottom halves being rigid, the other of said top and bottom halves being flexible along a fold line, said top wall and upper back Wall being perpendicular one to another and joined along a fold line, said bottom wall and said lower back wall portions being perpendicular one to another and joined along to a fold line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,956 10/29 Franz 129-13 1,801,956 4/31 Franz 129-13 1,846,388 2/32 Freeman 190---22 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SAMPLE CARRIER COMPRISING A BINDER TOP HALF AND A BINDER BOTTOM HALF, SAID BINDER TOP HALF INCLUDING A TOP WALL AND AN UPPER BACK WALL PORTION, SAID BOTTOM HALF INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL AND A LOWER BACK WALL PORTION, GUIDE MEANS ON ONE BACK WALL PORTION FOR TELESCOPICALLY CONNECTING SAID UPPER AND LOWER BACK WALL PORTIONS TO FORM A BACK WALL, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPEN CHANNEL MEMBERS EXTENDING ALONG THE SIDE EDGES OF ONE OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER BACK WALL PORTIONS AND OPENING TOWARDS EACH OTHER, THE OTHER OF SAID UPPER AND LOWER BACK WALL PORTIONS HAVING A WIDTH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID GUIDE CHANNELS AND BEING ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE THEREIN, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS BEING ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN PARALLEL RELATION PERPENDICULARR TO THE SAME SIDE OF SAID BACK WALL, SUPPORT POSTS MOUNTED ON AND PERPENDICULAR TO SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID SUPPORT POSTS INCLUDING A SCREW-THREADED ENLARGED HEAD PORTION FOR VERTICALLY EXTENDING SAID SUPPORT POSTS, AND TOP WALL HAVING HOLES THEREIN IMMEDIATELY ABOVE SAID SUPPORT POSTS, SAID TOP WALL HOLES BEING ADAPTED TO HAVE SAID ENLARGED HEAD PORTIONS PASSED THERETHROUGH, AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED HOOKS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID TOP WALL ADJACENT SAID HOLES, EACH OF SAID HOOKS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A SEPARATE ONE OF SAID SUPPORT POSTS UNDER ITS ENLARGED HEAD PORTION TO PREVENT UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BINDER TOP HALF WITH RESPECT TO SAID BINDER BOTTOM HALF. 